Fall Line Freeway
Encyclopedia
The Fall Line Freeway is a highway currently being constructed that will run the width of the state of Georgia
from Columbus
to Augusta
, passing through several cities including Macon
and Milledgeville
. It will be designated State Route 540 upon completion, and it will be a four-lane divided highway, except when following Interstate 75
(I-75) from Byron
to Macon and J. R. Allen Parkway, the bypass around Columbus. Its intention is to create an easier path for freight trucks to carry goods from Columbus to Augusta and vice versa. Much of the route will follow existing I-75 and U.S. Route 1
(US 1), while other parts will be newly-constructed roads, some of which, such as the portion from Macon to Sandersville
, are currently under construction or have not yet been built.
from Columbus eastward to Geneva
, State Route 96 (SR 96) from there to Fort Valley
, and SR 49 Connector and SR 49 to Byron, where it joins I-75. It follows I-75 to Macon, then proceeds east along or near SR 57 as far as the Wilkinson County
line. The Fall Line Freeway then proceeds northeastward mostly on new roadway until it reaches SR 24
just southeast of Milledgeville, and it then follows SR 24, SR 88, and US 1 to Augusta, ending at I-520
.
The alignment near Macon was originally intended to follow a new extension of roadway from I-75 at US 80 east and northeast to reunite with US 80 east of the city, providing Macon with a much-needed east bypass. However, this route was planned through the traditional cultural property of the Ocmulgee National Monument
. Opposition to the project resulted in its cancellation, even after almost a mile of the new highway, ending at a stub and consisting of two long bridges, was constructed. According to the DOT, the freeway will now follow I-75 into Macon, then turn east on I-16, departing it at U.S. 80 and following that highway eastward out of Macon. Despite this, Macon Mayor Robert Reichert has expressed interest in utilizing an under-construction highway in south Bibb County, connecting I-75 to US 129
, as a possible alignment for the Fall Line Freeway; this would require another highway extension across the swamps surrounding the Ocmulgee River
.
The Fall Line Freeway, including portions of US 80 is designated to be included in I-14
, a proposed future interstate that would run from I-520 in Augusta, Georgia
, to either Natchez, Mississippi
, or to I-49
at Alexandria, Louisiana
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
to Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, passing through several cities including Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and Milledgeville
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
. It will be designated State Route 540 upon completion, and it will be a four-lane divided highway, except when following Interstate 75
Interstate 75 in Georgia
In the U.S. state of Georgia, Interstate 75 runs north–south along the U.S. Route 41 corridor on the western side of the state, passing through the cities of Valdosta, Macon and Atlanta. It is also designated — but not signed — as State Route 401...
(I-75) from Byron
Byron, Georgia
Byron is a city in Peach County, Georgia, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Houston County. The population was 2,887 at the 2000 census...
to Macon and J. R. Allen Parkway, the bypass around Columbus. Its intention is to create an easier path for freight trucks to carry goods from Columbus to Augusta and vice versa. Much of the route will follow existing I-75 and U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
(US 1), while other parts will be newly-constructed roads, some of which, such as the portion from Macon to Sandersville
Sandersville, Georgia
Sandersville is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,097 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Washington County...
, are currently under construction or have not yet been built.
Status
As of April 2011, approximately 185 miles (297.7 km) (86 percent) of the route is open to traffic or under construction, including the entirety of the route between Columbus and Macon. The route will follow US 80U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80 is an east–west United States highway, much of which was once part of the early auto trail known as the Dixie Overland Highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific...
from Columbus eastward to Geneva
Geneva, Georgia
Geneva is a town in Talbot County, Georgia, United States. The population was 114 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Geneva is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, State Route 96 (SR 96) from there to Fort Valley
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
, and SR 49 Connector and SR 49 to Byron, where it joins I-75. It follows I-75 to Macon, then proceeds east along or near SR 57 as far as the Wilkinson County
Wilkinson County, Georgia
Wilkinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on May 11, 1803. As of 2000, the population was 10,220. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,064...
line. The Fall Line Freeway then proceeds northeastward mostly on new roadway until it reaches SR 24
State Route 24 (Georgia)
State Route 24 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. It runs from State Route 15 north of Watkinsville south to Milledgeville along U.S. Highway 441, east to Waynesboro, and southeast and southwest to end at State Route 26/U.S. Highway 80 in Statesboro.Initially SR 24 ran from...
just southeast of Milledgeville, and it then follows SR 24, SR 88, and US 1 to Augusta, ending at I-520
Interstate 520
Interstate 520 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway that encircles Augusta, Georgia and North Augusta, South Carolina as a three quarter beltway around the western, southern and eastern parts of the Augusta area. It begins at Interstate 20 in the northwest part of Augusta, and ends at Interstate 20...
.
The alignment near Macon was originally intended to follow a new extension of roadway from I-75 at US 80 east and northeast to reunite with US 80 east of the city, providing Macon with a much-needed east bypass. However, this route was planned through the traditional cultural property of the Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument preserves traces of over ten millennia of Southeastern Native American culture, including major earthworks built more than 1,000 years ago by Mississippian culture peoples: the Great Temple and other ceremonial mounds, a burial mound, and defensive trenches...
. Opposition to the project resulted in its cancellation, even after almost a mile of the new highway, ending at a stub and consisting of two long bridges, was constructed. According to the DOT, the freeway will now follow I-75 into Macon, then turn east on I-16, departing it at U.S. 80 and following that highway eastward out of Macon. Despite this, Macon Mayor Robert Reichert has expressed interest in utilizing an under-construction highway in south Bibb County, connecting I-75 to US 129
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 129 is an offshoot route of U.S. Route 29, which it intersects near Athens, Georgia. US 129 currently runs for 582 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Chiefland, Florida, at U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 98. It passes through the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida...
, as a possible alignment for the Fall Line Freeway; this would require another highway extension across the swamps surrounding the Ocmulgee River
Ocmulgee River
The Ocmulgee River is a tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi long, in the U.S. state of Georgia...
.
The Fall Line Freeway, including portions of US 80 is designated to be included in I-14
Interstate 14
Interstate 14 is a proposed interstate set to run from Natchez, Mississippi or Alexandria, Louisiana to Augusta, Georgia or North Augusta, South Carolina named for the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution...
, a proposed future interstate that would run from I-520 in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, to either Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, or to I-49
Interstate 49
Interstate 49 is currently an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at Interstate 10 while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Interstate 20.-Route...
at Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
.